Budget 2013 Justice: Closing 100 garda stations will ‘sever’ community connections

One hundred garda stations are to shut in the most radical restructuring of the force since the foundation of the State.

The main Garda staff association said the closures would “sever” connections between communities and local gardaí and produce a “safe breeding ground” for future criminals.

Fianna Fáil accused the Government of a “sustained effort to degrade the Gardaí’s presence” in communities.